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After much confusion among Metal Gear Solid fans, David Hayter has written a letter confirming he is not involved in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. The letter offers a rundown of his own experience with the upcoming Metal Gear Solid including the polite rejection he received after inquiring whether his services (that is, his voice) would be needed. Color this particular fangirl heartbroken.

Hayter isn't shaking all of this off so easily either. In his letter to fans, he notes his own disappointment, and driving home "bummed, thinking about Snake." Sure, he loves his role in Metal Gear, but then specifies that his true love is for his fans. (It's okay if you cry.)

The man whom many of us will forever associate with Snake remarks that were things up to him, he'd play Snake forever, but recognizes that it's not his choice in the end. (Still crying?)

I have been up in Toronto, for the past eight months, directing my first film, (WOLVES -- 2013, TF1/COPPERHEART). On the December break, I came home to Los Angeles for the holidays. I heard then, that recording sessions for MG:V were being put together.

But I didn’t hear anything about whether I’d be needed or not.

So, I got in touch with someone involved in the production. We got together for lunch, and he told me that they "wouldn’t be needing me" on this game. No reason, or explanation was given beyond that.

And that was it.

I drove home through Laurel Canyon, bummed, and thinking about Snake.

To be clear, I love being a part of the world of Metal Gear. I admire its technological innovations, the gameplay, the political message of it all. But primarily, I love the fans of these games. Two grown men burst into tears upon meeting me at the Vancouver Fan Expo last year.

Now that... Is a rare and excellent role. You know you’re making an impact.

And I love doing it.

In 1998, I tried to do come up with a voice which epitomized the kind of worn, put-upon, genetically-engineered clone-soldier that I saw Snake to be. Over time, as the games became more stunning and visually sophisticated, I tried to transition that initial voice into the increasingly real environments in which Snake found himself. My level of success is up to you, but any perceived deficiencies were not for lack of hard work. I have dedicated a huge amount of time and effort into creating a compelling character, capable of expressing the myriad emotional, physical and psychological hurdles that Snake has to face.

Anyway, now it’s been fifteen years, nine games, and an enormous blast to undertake.

If it were my choice, I would do this role forever. To hear anyone else’s voice coming from Snake’s battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest.

But the truth is -- it’s not my choice. Any and all casting decisions are the sole purview of Hideo Kojima, and Konami itself. And that’s fair.

And I’ll get by. I am not lacking for employment on any level.

But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them.

And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much.

My best wishes to you all,

David Hayter

April 1, 2013

The date doesn't make this an April Fool's joke, unfortunately. Hayter clarified later that the odd timing has more to do with his own schedule than anything else.